Ex to stand trial in woman's 1986 strangling death

Ex to stand trial in woman's 1986 strangling death

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A man is facing trial in the strangling death of his ex-girlfriend 26 years ago.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A man is facing trial in the strangling death of his ex-girlfriend 26 years ago.

The Deseret News reports Thomas "Peanut" Pennington was ordered to trial earlier this month in the death of 20-year-old Patricia "Smurf" Ramirez. Her body was found July 13, 1986, near a Salt Lake City hillside.

Witness Joel Murray said at a preliminary hearing in August that Pennington asked him for a ride July 8.

Murray said he felt Pennington put something in his trunk, then saw Pennington and two other men carry a large package over a hill.

The group returned to a party and allegedly told another attendee that Ramirez was dead.

Pennington has said the last time he saw Ramirez was six months before her death.

___

Information from: Deseret News

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Copyright 2012 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.